Brand asked hoarsely, “What are you wearing, Sarah?”
She looked down at the oversize t-shirt she had on. It had to be about the most unsexy thing she owned. Funny how Mel had actually talked her into purchasing a few other things that were kind of revealing though.
But Sarah swallowed as her eyes travelled over Brand. He was most obviously turned on, and she was so not ready.
And she had serious doubts about whether she ever would be.
Brand sat on the edge of the bed. “Don’t worry. I’m willing to wait for as long as you need me too, Sarah. And I know you’re not even close to being ready for something physical. You don’t have to think about that at all right now. You can trust me.”
Sarah sighed.
He held her gaze. “Are you alright?” Brand’s hazel eyes were deep, dark and intense. He was one of the best-looking men that she’d ever known.
“Alright…?” She shook her head. “Oh, the nightmare.” She was surprised. “It’s odd, but I do feel okay. Usually I’m super depressed after I have them.”
When her eyes roved over his body and lingered, he barked out a laugh. “I must’ve distracted you.”
She was still shaking her head dazedly. “Yeah, for sure.” But then she noticed a scar below his ribcage. “Brand? Is that where you were shot?”
Brand nodded agreeably. “Nothing too bad. Just a scrape.”
Reaching out, she touched him gently.
After a moment, he asked softly, “Can I see your leg?”
Sarah closed her eyes. Those animals had done a real number on her and the sight of her lower limb wasn’t pretty, even though most it had been saved. There was also a lot of heavy scarring on her thigh from where she’d been sliced with her own blade. They’d been ready to do more, and she probably wouldn’t have survived it, but luckily Brand had arrived.
She sighed heavily, sliding down the covers to expose her lower limbs. But Brand’s reaction surprised her.
Studying her left leg, he ran his fingers along the scars and exhaled deeply. “I’d kill them all over again, Sarah, for doing what they did to you. For your sake, I wish I could have been there sooner.”
Sarah grimaced. “Right now, I can honestly say that I’m grateful that you got there when you did.”
He nodded, turning away. She wasn’t sure but Brand almost looked like he was ready to cry, and the expression on his face brought a lump to her throat.
Standing up, Brand carried Sarah’s collection of knives across the room and laid them on the dresser, and then he returned to the other side of the bed and pulled down the covers.
Sarah grinned when he laid down on the bed.
“I know that you’re not into cuddling, so I’m not going to try to comfort you right now. But I’m sleeping with you from now on. It’ll be easier if you have any more nightmares.” He grinned. “Plus, I want you to get used to me being here.” Facing away from her, Brand drew up the blanket and comforter. “I’ve only got one condition,” he added, turning to look over his shoulder.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“No weapons near the bed.”
Sarah laughed while turning off the light, and surprisingly, she fell right back to sleep.
Chapter Sixteen
The next few days went by without incident, and Sarah had no more nightmares or restless nights. And during the interim, she and Brand became closer. It was rather amazing what they had in common.
They took turns making dinner. Brand was a pretty good cook, as was Sarah. Cooking was actually something she’d enjoyed growing up, because it was one of the few things she and Mom had done together. Although she’d been close to her dad, her mom hadn’t really understood Sarah well.
Brand had ordered some workout equipment the same day they’d moved in, and they’d worked out together in the basement every morning and evening since it’d arrived, and their routine continued afterward with a swim in the pool.
And he listened to the same kind of music she did. One of the biggest surprises for Sarah was discovering Brand was as big of a fan of rock as she was, and he rigged a Bluetooth speaker near the pool as well as downstairs.
It was Friday morning, and Sarah had just gotten off the phone with Josh. Apparently, his doctors wanted him to take it easy during the next few weeks until the results of some other tests were in, and he’d asked Sarah to take on some extra work, which included checking out some properties in the area for potential training locations.
“I’m so glad I remembered to pack my portable GPS. It’s really going to help us find these places.” They were in the garage, gassing up the snowmobiles for their ride.
Brand grinned. “Geez. I’m so sorry—I forgot to pack mine.”
She looked at him suspiciously. Was he laughing?
She punched him in the shoulder, reluctantly smiling and defending herself. “Hey, look. It’s coming in handy already, since neither one of us knows our way around Crystal Rock very well.”
“I’ve got my camera. Have you got your checklist?” Brand asked, as they put on their helmets and he opened the garage door.
“I do,” she answered, moving the machine outside and revving up the engine.
Both parcels were reasonably priced, and Sarah and Brand would drive to the two outlying properties and decide if either would meet their criteria.
Soon, they were off, and the feel of the cool air against her face was invigorating to say the least. She and Brand had gone for a couple of short rides this week, and Sarah realized she’d forgotten how much she enjoyed winter sports.
They stopped at the wounded warrior home first, where Josh had left a pile of paperwork for Sarah on his desk the previous day. He’d offered to scan them via email, but it’d be just as easy for her to pick everything up, since scanning would’ve required Josh to go into the office again today.
The first property was several miles away, which wouldn’t be so bad if there was a decent road leading toward it. Several trees would also need to be cleared out, and Sarah wasn’t too keen on destroying such a beautiful wooded lot. She and Brand pretty much ruled out the land right away.
The second property was much more promising, and was only a few miles north of the wounded warrior home. It was near the river, and Brand was checking out a building that resembled a barn built several yards away on the opposite bank.
“You’ve got a map of the area, don’t you Sarah? What’s that arena over there?” he asked pointing at the sprawling structure.
She studied her device. “Oh, isn’t that coincidental? It must be the Crystal Rock Animal Shelter. I think that’s the same place Danielle was talking about. The one where they train service animals.”
“That would be convenient if service dogs were integrated into the program,” Brand answered, looking thoughtful. “And there’s a huge clearing here, where it looks like a home used to be.”
Sarah glanced at her data sheet regarding the property. “Well, heck. It looks like Jake Loughlin owns this land.”
“Hmm. I wonder why it hasn’t been developed?” Brand answered. “Danielle says they have a bunch of rentals in Crystal Rock.”
“Yeah. Well whatever the reason, if they’re willing to sell, they’re probably giving us an excellent price since they’ve been behind the funding of the wounded warrior home from the beginning,” Sarah answered. “I’m going to recommend this place to Josh.”
“I agree, for what it’s worth.”
Sarah looked up from where she was typing on her notepad. “Huh?” She grinned wryly. She did have a tendency to get absorbed in work. “Pretend I just punched you again.”
Brand laughed.
When Sarah finally finished taking pictures and typing in her observations, they took off across the road, making their way toward the burger joint that Mel had recommended, where they’d eat a late-afternoon lunch.
“Pool tables? And a jukebox?” Sarah grinned as she and Brand walked into Mike’s. “Mel said this place has been
around for years. They must do a great business in the summer because of those decks and outdoor seating.”
They sat down first and had lunch, along with a beer, and Sarah took on Brand for a couple rounds of pool after plugging in some of her favorites in the jukebox.
Brand smiled, splitting the balls with the cue, watching two of the balls fall into the holes. Listening to the music for a moment, he added, “This should be your theme song.”
Sarah blinked, as Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger echoed through the bar.
When she grinned, Brand stared at her strangely, missing his next shot. “What is it?”
“Nothing,” she answered, striking with the cue and sending her final ball dropping into the pocket.
Brand muttered, “You won again. We’ll have to match up another day.”
Raising her brow in challenge, Sarah tapped her stick on the ground, chalking the tip and blowing off the excess.
Brand grinned. “Alright. One more time.”
Sara laughed softly. “Yeah, we haven’t been out much. It’s been fun.”
“Yeah, it has,” Brand answered, gathering the balls on the table.
This time Brand did win, and they decided it was time to head home. Besides, Sarah wanted to do a little more work on her own assignments, so she could catch up tomorrow on some of the other tasks Josh had asked her to do.
She and Brand raced across the lake together on their snowmobiles, side by side. Approaching the cabin from the park, where they’d discovered it easier accessing and exiting the lake along the narrow landing, Sarah immediately realized that something was wrong as she drove toward the large open space between the park and their cabin.
She had no brakes.
Racing across the property at an uncontrollable speed, Sarah attempted compressing the lever for the brakes again with her hand.
She’d have to jump off.
Heading toward the widest area of open ground, she began steering the snowmobile in a half circle, so it’d be headed away from the cabin when it kept moving.
Sarah jumped off, with a long loud grunt, and Brand came racing up to her to see if she was alright.
“Sarah. What in the hell…?
Brand quickly stopped his snowmobile, scrambling to Sarah’s side.
“The brakes,” she moaned wearily, as Brand pulled her into his arms. After watching the driverless snowmobile run aground amidst some pines, she muttered against his chest, “My brakes went out.”
Brand closed his eyes and held her tightly. “I’m just glad you’re alright.”
Sarah was shaking. “I was so close to running straight into that tree at the edge of the property. If I hadn’t started braking when I did, I would’ve never…”
Sarah looked at the destruction behind them. “What’ll we do?”
“Right now?” Brand studied their surroundings. “It’s aground in an isolated area of the property, and our neighbor hasn’t been home the entire week from what I can see. I say we do nothing Sarah. Let’s go home and try to figure out who decided to come after you and when it could’ve happened.”
Turning to look back, she scoped out the scene. “How do you know it was me they were after?”
“The different sized helmets,” he muttered. “Everywhere we’ve parked we’ve left the helmets with our vehicles.”
“Yeah, we have,” she agreed. “But would that’ve have been enough?”
Brand shrugged. “Frankly, this is not the way I expected anything to play out if it has something to do with what you saw in Iraq. I mean, you haven’t remembered anything, and pretty much everyone knows that too.”
Sarah nodded. “Well, let’s go shut down the motor, and I’ll get my bag from where it’s strapped in.”
She and Brand trudged through the snow, and while Brand shut down the engine and inspected the brake line, Sarah grabbed her satchel.
“Not too much damage to the front end. That maneuver took some quick thinking on your part, Legs. Good job,” Brand muttered.
A fleeting smile crossed over her face. “It’s funny how I haven’t even been thinking today about being in danger. And then this happened.”
“There’s something off about this. The brakes were definitely messed with. It’s a clean slice,” Brand answered.
Sighing deeply, Sarah answered, “I noticed.”
“Come on. Let’s get back to the house.”
“Alright.”
Chapter Seventeen
Sarah had been awfully quiet the rest of the evening. She’d worked in the office for over an hour, and Brand was surprised at her ability to concentrate after what had happened earlier.
When she still wanted to work out, Brand went along with that too, needing to be nearby, figuring that keeping busy was her way of dealing with the stress of the day.
Later that night, after Brand had showered and shaved and entered the master bedroom ready for sleep, he found Sarah sitting on the bed, and the only light in the room was from the fire burning in the gas fireplace.
But instead of her usual oversized t-shirt, she was wearing one of the sexiest numbers he’d ever seen. Not a bunch of ruffles and lace for his Sarah.
No.
She wore a form fitting silky sable colored nightgown, matching the color of her beautiful brown eyes. The fabric clung to her tightly like a second skin, accentuating the perfection of her hips, waist and breasts.
Brand’s heart started beating madly as he pulled off his t-shirt from over his head.
“Come here,” he whispered, reaching for her as he sat beside her.
When she moved closer, his hands stroked down from her back to her buttocks, and lifting her, he pulled her onto his lap.
“It’s not too much?” she asked, biting her lip.
She didn’t have a clue how beautiful she was, let alone how much she affected him, and Brand was stunned by her question.
He stood up from the bed with Sarah in his arms and took a seat in a chair in front of the full-length mirror resting on its stand near the edge of the room.
“Look at yourself Sarah,” he whispered softly. Her cheeks were aglow as a soft smile lit up her face. Her chocolate brown eyes were deep, warm and mysterious, and Brand ran his fingers lightly through the silky dark hair touching her shoulders.
They belonged together, Sarah and him. He’d never felt so in sync with another person before in his entire life.
* * *
Sarah’s attention was arrested by the expression on Brand’s face, and his absolute fascination with her as fingers trailed over her face and neck before moving to her breast. Gently pushing the fabric of the nightgown aside, his finger circled over a nipple before his mouth covered hers.
Sarah welcomed his kiss, pressing her body into his. She put her arms around his neck and let her head fall back as he trailed his mouth down her throat.
Lifting her, he carried her back to the comfort of the bed and paused. “Sarah,” he whispered. “I know it’s been over two years, but you still might not be ready for me to make love to you, even though you think you are. If at any time you feel like you can’t handle this, just tell me to stop, and I will. Okay? You can trust me.”
She sensed the urgency in his voice. “I know I can Brand. And, yes, I think I’m finally ready,” she answered with a soft smile on her face.
“I want this to be as good for you, as it is for me.”
“It will be,” she said, pulling her nightgown off from over her head.
“God, you’re beautiful,” Brand muttered. Standing up from the bed, he shed his boxers before returning to her side.
Sarah gasped at the touch of his lips, at the bold probing of his tongue as it moved over her body. Feeling suddenly excited and overwhelmed, she tried for a moment to pull back, but he held her easily, his fingers stroking, kneading, pulling her closer, tilting her hips into the shocking intimacy of his kiss. The intensity of the pleasure stunned her, scared her, swept her toward a towering cliff—and left her hanging.
<
br /> An involuntary whimper of frustration escaped her as Brand moved his mouth back up over her hips, waist and breast, finally pulling her hard against him. He shared the taste of her own desire with her, and she ran her hands along the taut muscles of his back and arms, feeling his strength as well as the urgency that seemed to match her own.
Her hands began to explore Brand, and she must’ve hit a nerve, because he groaned.
“Geez, Sarah, touch me. Feel what you do to me,” he groaned, closing her hand around his shaft, guiding it slowly up and down with his hand. Hot, hard, thick, pulsing. She traced her finger over the tip of him and found a spot that made him draw a breath in through his teeth. With his hand still curved over hers, she reached down and cupped him, and a shudder ripped through his entire body.
He drew away just long enough to fish a condom out from the wallet on the nightstand.
He looked at her with a rueful grin. “Just in case. I’ve had it there because of you.”
But Sarah only smiled.
He came back to her ready, eager, the muscles in his arms trembling as he braced himself over her.
She arched up to meet him. Her eyes drifted shut as he entered her, and her body tightened around him like a fist.
“Geez Sarah,” he groaned, obviously fighting an instinctive need to possess, and bury himself inside her. “Relax,” he whispered, gently raising her damaged leg protectively above his thigh.
Even his scent aroused her, she realized, sighing deeply in contentment.
He slid a hand beneath her hip, and lifted her into him, allowing himself to sink deeper, closer to bliss.
She caught her breath, then let go with a moan of pure indescribable pleasure.
Slowly, they moved together without words, the glow of the fire gilding their bodies.
Sarah let go of the self-restraint that was so much a part of her, shivering inside at the idea of her own defenselessness where this man was concerned.
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